A recent study conducted by a team of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles has shed light on how birth order can influence our personalities and even our success in life. According to the findings, birth order can play a significant role in shaping who we are as individuals.
Dr. Julia Rohrer, a personality psychologist at the University of Leipzig, discussed how siblings influence our personalities on the Science Weekly Podcast. Dr. Rohrer shared her own experience of having a younger half-sibling and being raised with an older cousin. She explained that Frank Sulloway’s niche theory suggests that siblings within a family compete for resources while also sharing genes and interests.
First-borns tend to specialize in being like a surrogate parent, taking on a bossy role, while younger siblings explore different niches and are more creative in finding their place in the family context. This dynamic can have long-lasting effects on our personalities and even our relationships with others.
The study found that first-born daughters tend to mature earlier and help their mothers rear younger siblings. Some studies even suggest that eldest daughters have a later-in-life payoff, as they are more likely to succeed and hold leadership roles.
Overall, these findings show that birth order not only impacts your family dynamics but can also influence your adult life. It’s important to be aware of how birth order may shape who we are as individuals and how we interact with others.